The novel use of extracted teeth as a dental restorative material--the 'Natural Inlay'.
OBJECTIVE
This preliminary study aimed to find out whether it is possible to produce a well fitting Class II inlay from an extracted tooth using a copy-milling technique.


METHODS
Two pairs of matching sound extracted permanent molar teeth were used. The molars were matched for mesio-distal size of the tooth crown and the convexity of the approximal surfaces. One tooth of each pair was assigned to be the 'donor' tooth, the other tooth being the 'host'. MO inlay preparations were made in the host teeth. These were restored with the milled 'Natural Inlays' produced from the donor teeth using the CELAY system. The restored host teeth were sliced and examined using light-microscopy.


RESULTS
The specimens showed the desired location of enamel and dentine, and a clinically acceptable fit.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has shown that by using the CELAY milling machine it is possible to 'recycle' extracted teeth for the production of dental restorations.
Moscovich
H
H
Department of Occlusal Reconstruction and Oral Function, Dental School, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Creugers
N H
NH
D002484:Cementation; D003188:Composite Resins; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000145:classification; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D018772:Dental Marginal Adaptation; D003764:Dental Materials; D003804:Dentin / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D007284:Inlays / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods*; D008963:Molar; D008964:Molar, Third; D019279:Resin Cements; D013499:Surface Properties; D013674:Technology, Dental; D019228:Tooth Crown
D003188:Composite Resins; D003764:Dental Materials; D019279:Resin Cements